Transmission operating mechanism



Nov. 4, 1952 ON 2,616,304

TRANSMISSION OPERATING MECHANISM Filed D60- 4, 1950 2 SHEETS--SHEET l IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY R. H. LONG TRANSMISSION OPERATING MECHANISM Nov. 4, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed D60. 4, 1950 0 0 .Q4l044. A 0000000000000 00 44 0 0 0000000000 0000 wmwwvwwlweevvgvvv n kfiF ATTQP/VE) Patented Nov. 4, 1952 TENT OFFICE TRANSMISSION OPERATING MECHANISM Richard H. Long, South Bend, Ind., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind, a corporation of Delaware.

Application December 4, 1950, Serial No. 199,128

6 Claims.

This invention relates to power actuated mechanism for selectively moving a control element to one or the other of two operative positi'ons, and more particularly to gear shifting mechanisms for operating the speed changing gearing commonly used in coupling the engine or prime moverwith the driving wheels or the like of anautomotive vehicle or the propeller of a marinecraft.

One of the obj'ectsof-my invention is to provide a power shifting mechanism for a motor vehicle change speed' mechanism, said mechanism being electrically selective under the control of vehicle speed responsive. means and engine torque controlling means.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide. power means for actuating a two-speed axle transmission mechanism of an automotive vehicle, said power means being operative to shuttle the transmission mechanism between its two settings with an operation of a governor operated switch and an operation of the accelerator of the vehicle. With the mechanism of my invention, an upshift operation of the transmission is automatically effected when the accelerator is released to or beyond a certain position and the vehicle speed is-increased to or above a certain factor; and as an additional feature of my invention should the driver desire to effect the low gear setting of the transmission, say to facilitate the passing of a car on the road,.he needbutdepress the accelerator to. its wide. open. throttle position, whereby the mechanism of my invention willoperate to establish the transmission in saidsetting and with the ,inechanism of my invention a low gear setting may be automatically established by the opening or the aforementioned governor operated switch.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a mechanism for operating a change speed transmissionof an automotive vehicle, said mechanism including a double acting spring. and pressure differential. operated motor controlled by means including, the accelerator of the vehicle and a vehicle speed responsive governor, said control means being such that a manipulation of the accelerator coupled with an operation. of the governor effects. anoperation. of the motor to shuttle the transmission between two of its settings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact, easily serviced. and relatively simple double acting unit-adapted for use in mechanism for. operating theshiftableelements. of. the twospeed axlestructure of. an. automotive vehicle.

The-aboveandother objectsand features of. the

invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein one-embodiment of: the invention is illustrated by way of example.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an automotive vehicle embodying the transmission operating mechanism of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view disclosing the transmission opera-ting vacuum motor of the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view disclosing detailsof the valve mechanism of my invention;

Figure 4 is a View disclosing the details of the governor operated switch of my invention.

The transmission operating power means constituting my inventionispreferably employed to operate a two-speed axle transmission mechanism of an automotiv vehicle; however, it may be employed to operate any power transmitting mechanism of the power plant of a land or marine vehicle wherein. said mechanism is selectively movable to two operative positions.

Referring to Figure 1, a transmission operating power unit It is detachably mounted on the carrier of what is known in the automotive art as a two speed axle, that is, a part of the driving mechanism of the vehicle effecting a gear ratio in addition to the usual driving ratio and different therefrom. This two-speed axle mechanism, actuated by the shifter mechanism of my invention-,is indicated by-the reference numeral l2, and a: change speed transmission mechanism cooperating therewith'is'indicated by the reference numeral I l. The transmission operating mechanismconstituting: myrinvention may be employed to; operate a Mayba'ch clutch type of two-speed axle; however, any otherwell known two speed axle construction is equally'well operated by the mechanism of my invention.

There is disclosed in Figure 2 a preferred embodiment of'theipower unit It of the transmission operating mechanism of my invention, said unit including a two-part casing [6 housing a power element I8? which is secured to a stem 20. A spring 19 serves to bias the piston 18 to the left as-disclosed in Figure l the transmission l2 being then established in its low gear setting. This stem issleeved within a hollow rod. 22 which is connected at its outer end to a shifting fork 24 of the two-speed axle mechanism l2. A preloaded spring 25, housed within the rod 22 and sleeved over" the stem 28, abuts at one of its ends a stop washer 28 which is in abutment with a shoulder constituting a part of the rod 22; and the other end ofthe'spring Zfi'abuts a stop washer 3.0 which compartment 44 and a compartment 46.

is sleeved over the stem 28 and which is in abutment with a stop ring 32 secured to the other end of the hollow rod 22.

When the motor I is energized by the spring I9 to move the piston I8 to the left, Figure 2, the stem. is moved and with it the washer 28 on the end thereof. In this operation the spring 26 is further compressed by the expansion of the spring I9 to shorten its length; and it is to be noted that the motor I0 may be energized by the spring I9 before the torque load is taken ofi the transmission mechanism. Then when the torque of the engine is reversed, preferably as a result of a closing of the throttle 34 of the carburetor 36, Figure 1, the rod 22 will move to the left, Figure 2, under the load of the then compressed spring 26 to demesh the transmission; and after the two gears to be meshed are synchronized, the spring 26 continues its expansion to effect a new setting of the transmission. 7 V

Describing the high gear operation of the motor I0 when said motor is vacuum energized the piston I8 moves to the right, Figure 2, the end of the stem 20 moving within a recess 38 within the rod 22. In this operation the spring 26 i further compressed inasmuch as the distance between the washers 28 and 38 is shortened th washer 28 remaining stationary. Then as described above, when the engine torque is reversed and the synchronization of the gears has been effected,

the spring 26 expands to effect the high gear setting of the transmission.

A solenoid operated three-way valve 40, Figure 3, is provided to control the operation of the motor II]. This valve, no claim to which is made, includes a two-part casing 42 said casing, together with a partition member 48, providing a The armature 58 of a grounded solenoid 52 serves to seat and unseat a valve member 54. When the solenoid is energized, to effect a high gear setting of the transmission, the member 54 is seated at 56 thereby connecting a compartment 58 of the motor I 8 with the intake manifold 6|] of the internal combustion engine 62 of the vehicle.

The valve 48 is connected to the manifold by a conduit 64 and to the motor In by a conduit 66. When the solenoid 52 is de-energized, to effect a low gear setting of the transmission, a spring 68 o erates to seat the valve 54 at I8 thereby venting the motor com artment 58 to the atmosphere via the conduit 86, a, conduit 12 and an air cleaner I4. I

The electrical means for controlling the valve operating solenoid'52 constitutes the most important feature of my invention, and includes a hold-down type of relay 16 comprising a coil 18 and normally open breaker switches 80 and 82. The coil is electricallyconnected in series with a grounded battery 84. the ignition switch 85 of the ignition system of the vehicle, a normally open breaker switch 86 and a normally closed accelerator operated breaker switch 88 which is opened when th accelerator is depressed to and beyond a certain position, say its one-fourth throttle open position. The switch 86 is preferably biased to its open position by a spring, not shown; and a vehicle speed responsive governor 9| serves to close the switch at a certain speed of the vehicle,

say ten miles per hour. The normally open relay switch 80 is electrically connected in series with the battery 84 and the grounded valve operated solenoid 52.

Continuing the description of the electrical control means of my invention, the coil 18 0f the relay I6 is also electrically connected in series with the battery 84, the ignition switch 85, the relay switch 82 and a normally closed and grounded kickdown switch III] constituting part of an accelerator operated switch mechanism indicated by the reference numeral III. The kickdown switch H0 is opened when the accelerator is depressed past its wide open throttle position and concurrent with the latter operation there is effected a closing of a normally open breaker switch I I4 which also constitutes a part of the accelerator operated switch mechanism ill. Th switch H4 is electrically connected in series with the primary winding IIB of the induction coil II8 of the vehicle and with a grounded breaker switch I28, Figure 1, which is normally open, but which is closed, preferably by the stem 20 of the motor I0, when the trans mission is established in or is about to be established in its high gear setting. The induction coil H8, a grounded breaker switch H9 and a distributor I22 of a conventional ignition system of an automobile are diagrammatically disclosed in Figure 1 and with the mechanism of my invention the winding I I6 is momentarily grounded by the closing of the accelerator operated kickdown switch H4 and the subsequent opening of the switch I28; and this operation serves to momentarily disable the engine of the vehicle, thereby facilitating the operation of the motor I8 in effecting the downshift, that is low gear operation of the transmission l2.

Describing now the complete operation of the mechanism of my invention, it will be. assumed that the engine 62 of the vehicle is disconnected from the transmission I4 by the disengagement of the clutch, not shown, that said transmission is established in one of its settings, say its high gear setting, and that the two-speed axle I2 is established in its low gear setting. Thedriver of the vehicle will then re-engage the clutch and depress the accelerator to get the car under way.

Now when the speed of the vehicle reaches the aforementioned figure of 10 miles per hour the switch 86 will be closed thereby initiating an operation of the mechanism of my invention to establish a high gear setting of the transmission I2; for it will be assumed that the accelerator is at the time released to close the switch88 thereby completing an electrical circuit including the relay coil i8; and this results in an energization of said coil. This operation will efiect a closure of the switches 88 and 82, thereby efiecting an energization of the valve operating solenoid 52. The throttle valve 34 is at the time closed to reverse the engine torque and the motor In is at the time vacuum energized to effect the high gear setting of the transmission. It is also to be noted that when the relay coil 18 is energized, the same remains energized until one or the other of switches 86 and III] is broken.

Continuing the description of the operation of the mechanism of my invention, the transmission I2 will now remain in its high gear setting until the driver wills to establish a low gear setting thereof; and he may efiect the latter operation, say to facilitate the passing of a car on the road, by depressing the accelerator past its wide open throttle position. This so-called kickdown operation effects an opening of the switch III! and a closing of the switch II4, thereby momentarily interrupting the ignition system of the vehicle and de-energizing the solenoid '52 to operatethe valve 40, Figure 3, to vent the motor ID to the atmosphere. The latter operation initiates a ans-s04 5 spring energiza-tion citr c-motor, thereby-enacting a low gea-rsetting" o!-*'the= transmission, said operation being facilitated by- -theafor-ementioned momentary" interruption, of the ignition system of the vehicle, that is, a momentary reversal of ciently to close the switch 88; and as described above, when the switches; 83' and 86 are closed, the mechan s o era vertaestablisnthetransmission I52, i its h ar; settin Ther is provided a, simple and efiicienttransmi i n op n mechanism. for shuttling, a transmission, i. e., a two-speed axle of. anautomotive vehicle, between two settings.

but one control, that is the accelerator. The upshift operation of the mechanism is automatically effected when the accelerator is released to or beyond a certain position and the speed of the vehicle is increased to a certain factor; and the downshift operation of the mechanism of my invention is effected, at the will of the driver, by either depressing the accelerator to its wide open throttle position or by decreasing the vehicle speed to a certain factor.

I claim:

1. In an automotive vehicle provided with a change speed transmission, an accelerator, power means for operating the transmission including a motor, a valve for controlling the operation of the motor, and means for controlling the operation of the valve including a solenoid comprising an armature operably connected to the valve, and means for controlling the operation of the solenoid to effect an operation of the valve ineluding a vehicle speed responsive governor, a switch, normally open, operated by the governor, a switch, normally closed, operated by the accelerator, a source of electricity, electrical means, including a relay coil, interconnecting the source of electricity and the two switches, and electrical means interconnecting the battery and solenoid including a normally open relay switch controlled hy the operation of the relay coil.

2. Inan automotive vehicle provided with a changespeed transmission and an accelerator; power means for operating the transmissionineluding a motor, a valve for controlling the operation of the motor, and means for controlling the operation of the valve including a grounded solenoid comprising an armature operably connected to the valve, and means for controlling the operation of the solenoid to effect an operation of the valve, said means including a vehicle speed responsive governor, a normally open switch operated by the governor, a normally closed switch operated by the accelerator, a source of electricity, an electrical relay mechanism comprising a coil and a normally open switch, electrical means interconnecting the source of electricity, the relay switch, and the solenoid, and electrical means interconnecting the source of electricity, the relay coil, the governor operated switch and the accelerator operated switch.

3. In an automotive vehicle provided with a With the mechanism of my invention, the driver operates change speed transmission, and" an accelerator; poWer means for operating the transmission in.- clud-ing a motor, a valve for controlling them)- eration of the motor, and means for controlling the operation. of the valve including a grounded solenoid comprising an armature operably connected to the. valve, and means forcontrolling theoperation of thesolenoid to cheat an operation of the valve including. a vehlclespeed responsive governor, a normally open switchv operated by the governor, a normally closed switch operably connected to the accelerator, a source of: electricity, an electrical relay'mechanism'comprising a coil and a. normally open switch, elec- 4 trical: means interconnecting-the source of electuated by the relay coil, a groundedaccelerator operated kick-downswitch, and: electrical means interconnecting the relay coil, the-:last mentioned relay switch and the accelerator operated kickdown switch.

4. In an automotive vehicle provided with an ignition system, a change speed transmission, and an accelerator; power means for operating the transmission including a motor, a valve for controlling the operation of the motor, and means for controlling the operation of the valve including a grounded solenoid comprising an armature operably connected to the valve, and means for controlling the operation of the solenoid to efiect an operation of the valve including a vehicle speed responsive governor, a switch operated by the governor, a switch operated by the accelerator, a, source of electricity, an electrical relay mechanism comprising a coil and a normally open switch, electrical means interconnecting the source of electricity, the relay switch and the solenoid, electrical means interconnecting the source of the electricity, the relay coil, the governor operated switch and the accelerator operated switch, another normally open switch adapted to be actuated by the relay coil, a grounded accelerator operated kick-down switch, electrical means interconnecting the relay coil, the last mentioned relay switch and the accelerator operated kick-down switch, and means, including a kick-down switch actuated by the accelerator, a switch operably connected to the power element of the motor, and electrical means interconnecting a part of the ignition system and the latter two switches, for momentarily disabling the ignition system to facilitate a certain operation of the transmission by the power means.

5. In an automotive vehicle provided with an ignition system, a change speed transmission and an accelerator; power means for shuttling the transmission between two of its settings including a motor having its power element operably connected to the transmission, a valve for controlling the operation of said motor, means for automatically operating the valve including a grounded solenoid, and means for operating the solenoid including a relay mechanism comprising a coil and two normally open switches operated by the coil, a source of electricity, electrical means interconnecting the solenoid, one of the relay switches and the source of electricity, agrounded accelerator operated switch, electrical means interconnecting the source of elec-- tricity, the coil and the accelerator operated switch, another accelerator operated switch, and

- electrical means interconnecting the other relay switch, the coil and the second mentioned accelerator operated switch; together with means operated in part by the accelerator, for momentarily disabling the ignition system to facilitate an operation of the power means in effecting one of the settings of the transmission.

6. In an automotive vehicle including a change --spe ed transmission, an accelerator and ignition system, power means for shuttling the transmission between two of its settings comprising a spring and pressure difierential operated motor operably connected to the transmissign, valve means-for controlling the operation of the motor,

.. a vehicle speed responsive governor,gelectrical means for operating the valve means including, in series, an accelerator operated switch, a switch operated by the governor and a source of electricity, said electrical means being operative,

when the accelerator is released to or beyond a certain position and the speed of the vehicle is ,jincreased to a certain factor, to effect an operation of 'the valve means to in turn efiect a cer- Number tain, setting of-the transmission; together with means operative,-when.the accelerator is" de- REFERENCES CITED The following-references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITE STATES PATENTS J Name Date 1,911,599.). Bloxsom May 30, 1933 2,322,479 j Schjolin June 22, 1943 2,380,677 Schjolin July 31, 1945 2,440,558 Price Apr. 27, 1948 2,454,614 Peterson et a1. 'Nov. 23, 1948 2,492,923 Moore et al Dec. 27, 1949 

